The University of Notre Dame Australia Careers

Description

University Secretary, Governance & Legal
Sydney (Broadway) or Fremantle Campus
Full-time opportunity, 5 Year Fixed term contract

• Rewarding opportunity
• Friendly and collaborative environment
• Competitive salary + 14.25% superannuation

About the university

The University of Notre Dame Australia is a private Catholic University with over 1,000 permanent staff providing an exceptional educational experience to over 12,000 students across our Fremantle, Broome, and Sydney campuses, as well as clinical schools in Victoria and New South Wales.

About the office/school

The role of the Legal and Governance team (within which the University Secretary’s team resides) is to provide, promote and support good governance and decision-making across the University and support statutory, regulatory, and legislative compliance obligations.

About the role

The University Secretary plays a pivotal role in ensuring a robust system of corporate and academic governance at the University. The role ensures all governance matters are handled with the highest level of integrity and efficiency.

The University Secretary serves as the primary liaison between the governing boards and committees, and the University's executive management, fostering clear and effective communication channels.

Key Responsibilities

• Fulfill the duties and requirements as University Secretary as outlined in the University Statutes

• Advise and support the Board of Directors and the Trustees to establish and implement good practice governance practices and ensure that members are provided with information necessary for them to fulfil

their responsibilities.

• Provide high level independent advice to the Vice Chancellor to support good practice governance and regulatory assurance practices in line with strategy and compliance obligations.
• Facilitate and manage communication channels between Senior Management, the Chancellor and the governing Board and governance committees to support productive relationships underpinned by the appropriate distinction between Governance and Management.
• Provide independent, strategic advice and support to the Chancellor on governance matters, including internal and external assessment of Board and committee performance.
• Provide advice on obligations and compliance in relation to higher education and Vocational Education and Training regulatory frameworks and oversee submissions to, and communications with, regulators

including TEQSA and ASQA.

• Act as custodian of the University’s Policy Framework, overseeing development, amendment and publishing of policy documents and providing expert advice to support good practice and compliance with

regulatory requirements.

• As line manager for the Records and Information Manager, provide guidance and support for the ongoing development of a records management framework.
• Mentor and guide relevant staff to ensure high quality secretariat services is provided to Academic Council and its sub-committees.
• Attend meetings and administer and oversee effective Secretariat services for the various boards and governance committees of the University.

Qualifications, skills & experience

• Tertiary qualification in a relevant discipline and substantial high-level governance, secretariat, and regulatory or legal experience.
• Member of Australian Institute of Directors and/or Governance Institute of Australia highly regarded
• Extensive experience in tertiary education governance highly regarded
• Established commercial and political acumen, strong communication and negotiation capabilities, demonstrated high level of discretion and confidentiality in dealings, and finely tuned interpersonal skills is essential for success in the role.
• Demonstrated high level of organisational, time and workload management skills, including the ability to prioritise to meet deadlines.
• Demonstrated extensive experience in establishing, reviewing and improving governance and secretariat structures and processes
• Demonstrated experience in establishing and implementing processes to assure compliance with statutory and/or legislative responsibilities, ideally in a tertiary education environment
• Demonstrated high level proficiency in the production of high- quality, accurate and detail oriented written communication coupled with strong working knowledge of IT software applications including Microsoft Office applications.
• Demonstrated highly effective communication skills and the ability to use initiative to resolve problems.

Benefits

• Join the University supporting its students and staff to achieve their career goals – in a personal and positive environment

How to apply

Please apply online with a resume and cover letter outlining your suitability for the role.

Applications closing date: 28 March 2025

For further information on how to apply, please visit: How to apply | Notre Dame

Applicants are expected to have current and valid work rights in Australia.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are encouraged to apply.      

The University of Notre Dame Australia seeks to increase the diversity of our workforce to better meet the different needs of the University and its stakeholders and to improve equal opportunity outcomes for our staff.

Contact us

Please direct your queries regarding this role to Janette Tam, janette.tam@nd.edu.au

Unsolicited contact from recruitment agencies will not be entertained.